Chapter 14
Life officially sucks. Just last week, it was the best it's ever been, now I'm hurting on the daily and wishing I could spend all day at the pack house. The guys have been looking at each other knowingly as I casually steal their clothes laying around and some of their pillows. My blinds haven’t' been open in days. I don't even bother turning on the light when I go in either. Then I'm forced to go to classes to keep from failing and stay on the team. Practices are worse than ever. I'm in pain and can't concentrate. The girls are mean as ever. I'm sure they can tell something is wrong, but they don't care enough to ask. The guys said I'm not scenting like I'm in heat but definitely acting like it. I'd go talk to Grace, but again, I don't think Kinkaid has told her yet.
We finally talked everything out after Emerson told me why he'd been acting weird. I hope he feels better about it now, knowing for sure that there's no blame or guilt involved, and I just want to be happy with them. He seems to be getting back to his normal self. Hell bells, maybe he's feeling part of what I have been the more time I spend at the pack house like this.
Middle of the week my pains get worse, and it's all I can do to get through practice. When I do, I call Grady to come get me instead of Jameson. I don't think my stomach can handle being on the back of the bike right now. Painfully walking over to the dorm, I want to run inside to grab the little bit of clothes that I have left. I debate on using the elevator for the first time ever, but I decide against it taking the stairs like normal.
I'm doubled over in pain by the time I make it to the top, though, and have to stop for a breather. Walking over to our door, I notice it slightly ajar, and I push it open the rest of the way. My heart drops into my bum and I forget about everything else entirely as the face of the Reverend stares back at me, and he brought my pack fathers with him.
"Well, there you are," he says in a chokingly sweet voice. "It took us a really long time to find you. Luckily, you have good friends who called and told us where we could."
My eyes cut over to them in shock. Whitney and Laura look smug and proud of themselves. Nichole is ashamed and terrified as she locks eyes with me and sees the fear there.
Bravely she risks it. "You don't have to go if you don't want to."
The Reverend wheels on her so fast pulling one of his split personality episodes that he's so good at, yelling, "Of course, she has to come home. You girls are out here living in sin and should be ashamed of yourselves for it. There's a special place in hell for girls like you."
Whitney tears up, and I only feel slightly bad for her.
"Leave them out of this," I tell him, knowing it's going to earn me a punishment. "I'll go, if you'll leave them alone."
"Need help packing your bags?" Nichole asks
One of my pack fathers steps in front of her blocking our view from each other. "She does not need any of these sinners clothing where she's going."
Mark, the one I've never liked at all, comes over and takes me by the upper arm dragging me out of the room. I'd dropped my bag in surprise when I walked in and fight to get back to it. If I can only get to my phone I can call my pack. I fight until his grip tightens hard enough to leave instant bruises, causing me to cry out in pain.
I call back into the room, "Nichole, I took your Kinkaid sweater on March seventeenth. I'm so sorry. It's probably still in my bag."
I can only hope that she understands my code as they drag me over to the elevator. No one comes out into the hallways to investigate the yelling. Everyone minds their business. On a day that I really need them not to.
April is in the box and happens to look up catching my eye, hers widening in surprise as she watches Mark drag me out the door. I plant my feet, letting her see that I'm being taken against my will. One of the others turns around and slaps me across the face, making my ears ring and legs go limp.
Hopefully she'll call someone, and they can get to me in time. If not, I'm so screwed. We make it out to their white SUVs parked at the curb without passing a single person. Mark waits until the one who slapped me gets into the other side before shoving me in next to him.
"I can't believe you, Marnie," Mark growls. "After everything our pack has been through. You're willing to throw away all of our chances into heaven because you want to be a sinner and a whore."
"She's definitely in heat," the man on my other side says, sniffing me out.
"Touch her and you'll answer to The Reverend," Mark growls before handing me a pill. "Take it and I won't have to force you to."
When I refuse, he shoves it past my lips. I'll be surprised if he hasn't chipped a tooth. I spit it back at his face. This time he's the one who slaps me, and I taste blood in my mouth.
"Take it," he barks using his alpha command.
I'm helpless to do as he tells me.